Sold | 1934 Alvis Speed 20 SB Open Tourer

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£75,000

1934 Alvis Speed 20 SB Open Tourer

United Kingdom • 18 May 2011 • Lot 230

Vehicle Details

AI Listing Summary

This 1934 Alvis Speed Twenty, originally owned by actress Claire Luce and rally driver Maurice Gatsonides, features Vanden Plas style touring coachwork converted from a drophead coupe. Restored in 1999 and upgraded with modern components, this technologically advanced British car boasts a synchromesh gearbox and independent front suspension.

Condition

7

The car was the subject of a major restoration carried out to a very high standard in Holland in 1999. More recently, the wire wheels have been powder coated in black and the engine had new pistons fitted in 2010, the magneto was rebuilt over the last winter and the radiator completely re-cored last year. The listing also states that this vehicle has been up-rated with an electric fuel pump, electric cooling fan and a modern hydraulic braking system, the latter being of great benefit during its recent participation in a Swiss rally.

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Transmission:

Manual

Chassis No:

11838

Odometer:

10,029 miles

Reg Number:

AYX 94

RHD/LHD:

RHD

The SA Speed 20, the first new post-vintage Alvis design, is for many the most desirable Alvis: fast and handsome with tremendous performance and a low, purposeful appearance.

With the first Speed 20, introduced in 1932, Alvis went wholeheartedly for exceptional performance allied to dashing, low-built coachwork.

A new double-dropped chassis frame of 10'3"" wheelbase lowered the whole car.

Standard four door tourers were by Cross & Ellis, with the 4 door saloon from Charlesworth, but new London distributor Charles Follett also offered a two door tourer, a two door sports saloon and a drophead coupé by Vanden Plas at greater cost.

Maximum speed was 90 mph and although, superficially, the engine resembled previous designs, especially the 19.82 Silver Eagle, with its cast iron head and block bolted to a separate aluminium crankcase but in fact very little was interchangeable.

No longer was the engine used to add rigidity to the front of the chassis.

It was a 6 cylinder, 2511cc, with...